Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. Guides

So what’s an Ultrabook anyways?

By
acer-aspire-s3-ultrabook
Image used with permission by copyright holder

In the market for a new laptop? By now, you’ve probably heard the term “Ultrabook,” but what exactly is it and how is it different from a normal laptop? Intel coined the term in 2011 to describe a laptop that’s lightweight, yet powerful and sleek. Available in a variety of models and sizes, ranging from about 13 to 20 inches, and from about 3 to 18 pounds, these laptops must fit within a very specific weight and size spectrum to be called an Ultrabook.

With respect to Ultrabooks, these computers refer to a specific category of laptops created by Intel to compete with the increasingly popular tablets and the well-designed MacBook Air. Ultrabooks are ultimately meant to offer a reasonable compromise between portability and performance. For instance, while netbooks may be extremely portable, there is no question that these same netbooks do not operate at a high performance level. Ultrabooks, however, are extremely portable and boast more muscle than that of the typical netbook on the market today.

Recommended Videos

What laptops qualify as Ultrabooks?

By Intel standards, in order to qualify as a second generation Ultrabook, the laptops must first be less than 0.7 inches thick for laptops with 13.3-inch displays and smaller. Laptops must be less than 0.8 inches thick with 14-inch and larger displays, and less than 0.9 inches thick for convertible tablets. In addition, these types of laptops must run via low-powered Intel processors and boast a battery life of at least five hours. They also need to be able to resume from hibernation in less than eight seconds. These second generation Ultrabooks also require USB 3.0 and a minimum internal transfer rate of 80MB/s for storage.

Related

What can you expect from an Ultrabook?

Intel’s second generation Ultrabooks use a speedy Intel Ivy Bridge processor.  In addition, most of the models on the market have Intel integrated graphics. That being said, if you are a gamer, you should not expect to do serious gaming on Ultrabooks. Also, the graphics may not be sufficient if you do a lot of audio conversion or video rendering.

It is also important to keep in mind that Intel does not have specific requirements for storage, RAM, screen size, or output or connectivity. For example, while most Ultrabooks feature Wi-Fi, if you require more specialized ports, such as a VGA output for instance, this type of port may not be available on your Ultrabook. These components are left up to the manufacturer’s discretion.

How much do Ultrabooks cost?

According to specifications from Intel, Ultrabooks should be priced in the range of $1,000. Generally speaking, Ultrabooks are available from manufacturers between the $800 to $1,400 price points. Of course, Ultrabooks with more features and a larger screen inevitably will be more expensive.

Are Ultrabooks a good option for you?

Without a doubt, Ultrabooks are an excellent choice if portability and design are highly important to your lifestyle. For example, if you travel often, or if you use your laptop to write, conduct Web research, and perform similar activities, an Ultrabook is definitely the way to go. However, if you require the use of heavy graphics and portability is not a priority for you, it might be in your best interest to consider other options.

Interested in buying your own Ultrabook? Check out our How to Buy an Ultrabook guide to help you get started before you get to the store.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Larisa Redins
Larisa Redins
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Larisa Redins a full time writer and editor with degrees in both Arts and Biological Science. She writes and edits articles…
Stop what you’re doing and buy this 17-inch laptop right now
A woman video chats with her friends on an HP Envy laptop.

Do you need a new laptop but your budget is pretty tight? There’s a big discount on a HP 17-inch laptop at HP right now and it’s easily one of the best laptop deals for anyone keen to save money. Usually costing $500, you can buy this laptop for just $280 thereby saving $230. For a 17-inch laptop, that’s a huge discount so if you’re looking for a cheap desktop replacement, this is well worth checking out. It’s the latest example of what great value you can get from laptops these days. Here’s what you need to know about it if you need a little more convincing.

Why you should buy the HP Laptop 17z
Knowing what to buy when seeking a new laptop can feel pretty complicated. There are so many options around and when your budget doesn’t allow for something from the best laptops list, what do you do? Prioritize certain parts of the laptop and think deeply about what you need. Here’s a quick overview of why you should buy this particular HP 17-inch laptop.
You need a huge screen
Laptops typically focus on offering either 13-inch or 15-inch screens. 17-inch screens are available but they’re not as common meaning they aren’t discounted as frequently. With this laptop, you get a 17-inch HD+ screen. That means an increased resolution of 1600 x 900 which adds to the flexibility that comes here. You’ll have more screen space for juggling many windows or simply being able to see things more clearly. It also has 250 nits of brightness which isn’t high but isn’t bad going either.
You’re happy with a basic spec
The HP Laptop 17z isn’t the fastest of laptops but it’s just fine for typing up documents, browsing online and other basic but daily duties. Most people don’t need anything too fast other than gamers or video editors so this model will suffice. It has an AMD Athlon Gold 7220U processor along with 8GB of memory and 128GB of SSD storage. That’s all you need for daily usage.
You want reliability
Originating from one of the best laptop brands, the HP Laptop 17z is well-designed to be reliable and comfortable to use. It has a lift-hinge which elevates the keyboard for a more natural typing experience that is easier on your wrists. It also has an enlarged clickpad which is convenient while there’s HP Fast Charge support which gives you back 50% of power in about 45 minutes. Its keyboard also has a numeric keypad which is useful for entering plenty of figures quickly. It all comes together to mean this HP 17-inch laptop is more versatile than you’d expect for the price.

Read more
USB-C charging laptops: Here’s what you need to know
Close up on the USB-C ports on a Macbook Pro.

Most modern laptops use a USB-C port for charging, offering a convenient, compact, and high-wattage method to charge your laptop and charge it faster than most traditional designs. The actual speed it chargers depends on the charger you use, the USB-C cable, and the charging port on your laptop. They all need to support USB Power Delivery, but there are a few different generations of that technology that have vastly different specifications and capabilities

You don't even need one of the best laptops to charge using USB-C. Most modern laptops have the option. That's great, too, because USB-C is reversible, handles data and charging simultaneously, and can even let you output to a display while charging your laptop from the same USB-C cable. Here's how to do it.
How to charge your laptop with USB-C

Read more
HP Envy deals: HP’s most popular laptop starts at $630
An HP Envy 17-inch laptop sits on an office desk.

A great computer brand to shop if you’re in the market for a new laptop is HP, which is consistently among the best laptop brands. It has several different model lineups to choose from, with the HP Envy laptop lineup offering a good balance of hardware options and pricing. The HP Envy lineup is also a good one to shop because it regularly turns out some impressive laptop deals. That’s certainly the case right now, as there are a lot of HP Envy deals to shop. We’ve rounded up what we feel are the best HP Envy deals currently taking place, so read onward for more information on how to land some savings.
HP Envy x360 2-in-1 laptop 15Z-FH000 — $630, was $900

The HP Envy x360 convertible laptop is a great option for just about anyone, particularly anyone who enjoys the touchscreen functionality of a tablet. It’s well designed and super slim, making it a truly go-anywhere device. Despite its portability, it still has an immersive 15.6-inch touchscreen that’s great for creators, note-takers, and binge watchers. Top notch build quality and durability, fast charging technology, a fingerprint reader, and great battery life round out the top features of the HP Envy x360 convertible touchscreen laptop. It competes well with the best 2-in-1 laptops. Its versatility and all-around capability make it a worthy companion on any desk, and on any lap.

Read more